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Focal length affinity

January 1, 2016 JimK Leave a Comment

There was a discussion on the ‘net this morning about a search for a 35mm full frame lens that had characteristics the OP couldn’t quite describe. At one point, several wondered if he really wanted a 35mm lens at all. Someone said:

Although it takes some years to develop, most people have a personal eye with photography. It all has to do with our sense of composition, what we what to tell with the photo, and our gut how close we get to our subject or not.

I’ve been making photographs seriously for 60 years. 10 or 15 years into that journey, I might have agreed with the above, although it seemed like my preferred focal lengths changed over time.

I now no longer think of lens choices that way. I pick focal lengths according to the subject and my intent. I’m comfortable with FF equivalents from 14mm to 500mm. Whatever it takes to do the job.

I do admit to struggling with an 8mm fisheye still, and having a hard time managing lenses longer than half a meter. That last is probably just cause I’m getting old, because EFCS sure makes it easier to get sharp pix with those long beasts than it used to be.

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